The Chamakam is the second half of Sri Rudram. It is the seventh prapathaka of the fourth kanda of the Taittiriya Samhita of the Krishna Yajur Veda, and it takes its name from the words cha me, which end almost every phrase: “and may it be mine”. Where the Namakam is a series of salutations, the Chamakam is a series of requests. It has eleven anuvakas, or sections, and is chanted after the Namakam in worship of Rudra, the Vedic form of Shiva.
The requests begin with the body and mind, go on to food, wealth and well-being, and then to the things of the sacrifice and the gods, ending with lists of numbers. It does not name Rudra in its own words. In the Samhita it comes within a ritual called the Vasordhara, the stream of wealth, in which a ladle of ghee is poured in a continuous stream as the hymn is recited. For the tradition it is joined to the Namakam, and the two are called together Rudram. The overview page on Sri Rudram describes the whole.
Below are all eleven anuvakas in Devanagari with a simple transliteration and a plain meaning. The lists are long, so the meaning for each block gives the sense of the items and does not translate each word.
The text, transliteration and meaning
The print runs each anuvaka as one unbroken chant. We have cut the lines at a convenient place, always after a me, to make the text easy to follow.
Anuvaka 1
Opening mantra
अग्नाविष्णू सजोषसेमा वर्धन्तु वां गिरः ।
द्युम्नैर्वाजेभिरागतम् ॥
Agnavishnu sajoshasema vardhantu vam girah
Dyumnairvajebhiragatam
MeaningAgni and Vishnu, of one mind, may these words of praise make you grow. Come to us with brightness and with food. This verse is chanted at the beginning of the Vasordhara, the stream of wealth, in which clarified butter is poured as the Chamakam is recited.
Anuvaka 1
वाजश्च मे प्रसवश्च मे प्रयतिश्च मे प्रसितिश्च मे धीतिश्च मे ।
क्रतुश्च मे स्वरश्च मे श्लोकश्च मे श्रावश्च मे श्रुतिश्च मे ।
ज्योतिश्च मे सुवश्च मे प्राणश्च मेऽपानश्च मे व्यानश्च मेऽसुश्च मे ।
चित्तं च म आधीतं च मे वाक्च मे मनश्च मे ।
चक्षुश्च मे श्रोत्रं च मे दक्षश्च मे बलं च म ।
ओजश्च मे सहश्च म आयुश्च मे जरा च म ।
आत्मा च मे तनूश्च मे शर्म च मे वर्म च मेऽङ्गानि च मेऽस्थानि च मे ।
परूंषि च मे शरीराणि च मे ॥
Vajashcha me prasavashcha me prayatishcha me prasitishcha me dhitishcha me
Kratushcha me svarashcha me shlokashcha me shravashcha me shrutishcha me
Jyotishcha me suvashcha me pranashcha me'panashcha me vyanashcha me'sushcha me
Chittam cha ma adhitam cha me vakcha me manashcha me
Chakshushcha me shrotram cha me dakshashcha me balam cha ma
Ojashcha me sahashcha ma ayushcha me jara cha ma
Atma cha me tanushcha me sharma cha me varma cha me'ngani cha me'sthani cha me
Parumshi cha me sharirani cha me
MeaningMay my food, my impulse, my effort, my binding, my thought, my resolve, my voice, my praise, my hearing and my fame be mine; may my light, my heaven, my breath in all its forms, my life, my mind and what I have understood, my speech, my eye, my ear, my skill, my strength, my vigour, my power, my life span and my old age be mine; and may my self, my body, my comfort, my protection, my limbs, my bones, my joints and all the parts of my body be mine. The sage Sayana explains each word in turn.
Anuvaka 2
Anuvaka 2
ज्यैष्ठ्यं च म आधिपत्यं च मे मन्युश्च मे भामस्च मेऽमश्च मेऽम्भश्च मे ।
जेमा च मे महिमा च मे वरिमा च मे ।
प्रथिमा च मे वर्ष्मा च मे द्राघुया च मे ।
वृद्धं च मे वृद्धिश्च मे सत्यं च मे श्रद्धा च मे ।
जगच्च मे धनं च मे वशश्च मे त्विषिश्च मे ।
क्रीडा च मे मोदश्च मे जातं च मे जनिष्यमाणं च मे ।
सूक्तं च मे सुकृतं च मे वित्तं च मे ।
वेद्यं च मे भूतं च मे भविष्यच्च मे सुगं च मे ।
सुपथं च म ऋद्धं च म ऋद्धिश्च मे क्लृप्तं च मे ।
क्लृप्तिश्च मे मतिश्च मे सुमतिश्च मे ॥
Jyaishthyam cha ma adhipatyam cha me manyushcha me bhamascha me'mashcha me'mbhashcha me
Jema cha me mahima cha me varima cha me
Prathima cha me varshma cha me draghuya cha me
Vriddham cha me vriddhishcha me satyam cha me shraddha cha me
Jagachcha me dhanam cha me vashashcha me tvishishcha me
Krida cha me modashcha me jatam cha me janishyamanam cha me
Suktam cha me sukritam cha me vittam cha me
Vedyam cha me bhutam cha me bhavishyachcha me sugam cha me
Supatham cha ma riddham cha ma riddhishcha me klriptam cha me
Klriptishcha me matishcha me sumatishcha me
MeaningMay my seniority and my lordship, my anger and my brightness, my water, my greatness, my breadth and my length, my growth, my truth and my faith, my wealth, my command, my radiance, my play and my delight, what is born and what will be born, my good words and good deeds, what I have and what can be known, my past and my future, my easy path and good way, my prosperity, my well-ordered plans, my understanding and my good understanding be mine.
Anuvaka 3
Anuvaka 3
शं च मे मयश्च मे प्रियं च मेऽनुकामश्च मे ।
कामश्च मे सौमनसश्च मे भद्रं च मे श्रेयश्च मे ।
वस्यश्च मे यशश्च मे भगश्च मे द्रविणं च मे ।
यन्ता च मे धर्ता च मे क्षेमश्च मे धृतिश्च मे ।
विश्वं च मे महश्च मे संविच्च मे ज्ञात्रं च मे ।
सूश्च मे प्रसूश्च मे सीरं च मे लयश्च म ।
ऋतं च मेऽमृतं च मेऽयक्ष्मं च मेऽनामयच्च मे जीवातुश्च मे ।
दीर्घायुत्वं च मेऽनमित्रं च मेऽभयं च मे सुगं च मे ।
शयनं च मे सूषा च मे सुदिनं च मे ॥
Sham cha me mayashcha me priyam cha me'nukamashcha me
Kamashcha me saumanasashcha me bhadram cha me shreyashcha me
Vasyashcha me yashashcha me bhagashcha me dravinam cha me
Yanta cha me dharta cha me kshemashcha me dhritishcha me
Vishvam cha me mahashcha me samvichcha me jnatram cha me
Sushcha me prasushcha me siram cha me layashcha ma
Ritam cha me'mritam cha me'yakshmam cha me'namayachcha me jivatushcha me
Dirghayutvam cha me'namitram cha me'bhayam cha me sugam cha me
Shayanam cha me susha cha me sudinam cha me
MeaningMay my well-being and my joy, what I love, what I desire and my wish, my good mind, my good fortune and my higher good, my excellence, my fame, my share, my wealth, the one who guides me and the one who upholds me, my safety and my steadfastness, the whole world and my greatness, my understanding, my knowledge, my growth, my plough and my rest, the order of the world and what is deathless, my freedom from illness and from disease, my life, my long life, my freedom from enemies and from fear, my easy movement, my bed, my morning and my good day be mine.
Anuvaka 4
Anuvaka 4
ऊर्क्च मे सूनृता च मे पयश्च मे रसश्च मे ।
घृतं च मे मधु च मे सग्धिश्च मे सपीतिश्च मे ।
कृषिश्च मे वृष्टिश्च मे जैत्रं च म औद्भिद्यं च मे ।
रयिश्च मे रायश्च मे पुष्टं च मे पुष्टिश्च मे ।
विभु च मे प्रभु च मे बहु च मे ।
भूयश्च मे पूर्णं च मे पूर्णतरं च मेऽक्षितिश्च मे ।
कूयवाश्च मेऽन्नं च मेऽक्षुच्च मे व्रीहयश्च मे यवाश्च मे ।
माषाश्च मे तिलाश्च मे मुद्गाश्च मे खल्वाश्च मे गोधूमाश्च मे ।
मसुराश्च मे प्रियंगवश्च मेऽणवश्च मे श्यामाकाश्च मे नीवाराश्च मे ॥
Urkcha me sunrita cha me payashcha me rasashcha me
Ghritam cha me madhu cha me sagdhishcha me sapitishcha me
Krishishcha me vrishtishcha me jaitram cha ma audbhidyam cha me
Rayishcha me rayashcha me pushtam cha me pushtishcha me
Vibhu cha me prabhu cha me bahu cha me
Bhuyashcha me purnam cha me purnataram cha me'kshitishcha me
Kuyavashcha me'nnam cha me'kshuchcha me vrihayashcha me yavashcha me
Mashashcha me tilashcha me mudgashcha me khalvashcha me godhumashcha me
Masurashcha me priyangavashcha me'navashcha me shyamakashcha me nivarashcha me
MeaningMay my strength and my kind speech, my milk and my juices, my ghee and my honey, my shared meals and my shared drink, my farming and my rain, my victories and my growing plants, my riches and my treasures, my plenty and my thriving, my abundance, my more and my much, my fullness and my greater fullness, what does not run out, my poor grain and my food, my hunger-ending food, my rice, barley, beans, sesame, mung, lentils, wheat, red lentils, millet, fine rice, wild millet and forest rice be mine.
Anuvaka 5
Anuvaka 5
अश्मा च मे मृत्तिका च मे गिरयश्च मे पर्वताश्च मे ।
सिकताश्च मे वनस्पतयश्च मे हिरण्यं च मेऽयश्च मे सीसं च मे ।
त्रपुश्च मे श्यामं च मे लोहं च मेऽग्निश्च म ।
आपश्च मे वीरुधश्च म ओषधयश्च मे कृष्टपच्यं च मेऽकृष्टपच्यं च मे ।
ग्राम्याश्च मे पशव आरण्याश्च यज्ञेन कल्पन्ताम् वित्तं च मे ।
वित्तिश्च मे भूतं च मे भूतिश्च मे वसु च मे ।
वसतिश्च मे कर्म च मे शक्तिश्च मेऽर्थश्च म एमश्च म ।
इतिश्च मे गतिश्च मे ॥
Ashma cha me mrittika cha me girayashcha me parvatashcha me
Sikatashcha me vanaspatayashcha me hiranyam cha me'yashcha me sisam cha me
Trapushcha me shyamam cha me loham cha me'gnishcha ma
Apashcha me virudhashcha ma oshadhayashcha me krishtapachyam cha me'krishtapachyam cha me
Gramyashcha me pashava aranyashcha yajnena kalpantam vittam cha me
Vittishcha me bhutam cha me bhutishcha me vasu cha me
Vasatishcha me karma cha me shaktishcha me'rthashcha ma emashcha ma
Itishcha me gatishcha me
MeaningMay my stone and my clay, my hills and my mountains, my sand and my trees, my gold, my iron, my lead and my tin, my copper and my bronze, my fire and my water, my creepers and my herbs, what grows from the ploughed field and what grows without ploughing, my village animals and the wild animals prosper through the sacrifice. May my possession and my gain, what has been and what is to be, my wealth and my home, my work and my power, my aim, my goal, my purpose and my path be mine.
Anuvaka 6
Anuvaka 6
अग्निश्च म इन्द्रश्च मे सोमश्च म इन्द्रश्च मे सविता च म ।
इन्द्रश्च मे सरस्वती च म इन्द्रश्च मे पूषा च म ।
इन्द्रश्च मे बृहस्पतिश्च म इन्द्रश्च मे मित्रश्च म इन्द्रश्च मे ।
वरुणश्च म इन्द्रश्च मे त्वष्टा च म इन्द्रश्च मे ।
धाता च म इन्द्रश्च मे विष्णुश्च म इन्द्रश्च मे ।
अश्विनौ च म इन्द्रश्च मे मरुतश्च म इन्द्रश्च मे ।
विश्वे च मे देवा इन्द्रश्च मे पृथिवी च म ।
इन्द्रश्च मे अन्तरिक्षं च म इन्द्रश्च मे द्यौश्च म ।
इन्द्रश्च मे दिशश्च म इन्द्रश्च मे मूर्धा च म ।
इन्द्रश्च मे प्रजापतिश्च म इन्द्रश्च मे ॥
Agnishcha ma indrashcha me somashcha ma indrashcha me savita cha ma
Indrashcha me sarasvati cha ma indrashcha me pusha cha ma
Indrashcha me brihaspatishcha ma indrashcha me mitrashcha ma indrashcha me
Varunashcha ma indrashcha me tvashta cha ma indrashcha me
Dhata cha ma indrashcha me vishnushcha ma indrashcha me
Ashvinau cha ma indrashcha me marutashcha ma indrashcha me
Vishve cha me deva indrashcha me prithivi cha ma
Indrashcha me antariksham cha ma indrashcha me dyaushcha ma
Indrashcha me dishashcha ma indrashcha me murdha cha ma
Indrashcha me prajapatishcha ma indrashcha me
MeaningMay Agni and Indra, Soma and Indra, Savitar and Indra, Sarasvati and Indra, Pushan and Indra, Brihaspati and Indra, Mitra and Indra, Varuna and Indra, Tvashtar and Indra, Dhatar and Indra, Vishnu and Indra, the two Ashvins and Indra, the Maruts and Indra, all the gods with Indra, the earth and Indra, the air and Indra, the sky and Indra, the directions and Indra, my head and Indra, and Prajapati and Indra be mine. In each pair, the name of Indra is paired with the god of the moment.
Anuvaka 7
Anuvaka 7
अंशुश्च मे रश्मिश्च मेऽदाभ्यश्च मेऽधिपतिश्च म उपांशुश्च मेऽन्तर्यामश्च म ।
ऐन्द्रवायवश्च मे मैत्रावरुणश्च म आश्विनश्च मे प्रतिप्रस्थानश्च मे शुक्रश्च मे ।
मन्थी च म आग्रयणश्च मे वैश्वदेवश्च मे ध्रुवश्च मे ।
वैश्वानरश्च म ऋतुग्रहाश्च मेऽतिग्राह्याश्च म ऐन्द्राग्नश्च मे वैश्वदेवश्च मे ।
मरुत्वतीयाश्च मे महेन्द्रश्च म आदित्यश्च मे सावित्रश्च मे सारस्वतश्च मे ।
पौष्णश्च मे पात्नीवतश्च मे हारियोजनश्च मे ॥
Amshushcha me rashmishcha me'dabhyashcha me'dhipatishcha ma upamshushcha me'ntaryamashcha ma
Aindravayavashcha me maitravarunashcha ma ashvinashcha me pratiprasthanashcha me shukrashcha me
Manthi cha ma agrayanashcha me vaishvadevashcha me dhruvashcha me
Vaishvanarashcha ma ritugrahashcha me'tigrahyashcha ma aindragnashcha me vaishvadevashcha me
Marutvatiyashcha me mahendrashcha ma adityashcha me savitrashcha me sarasvatashcha me
Paushnashcha me patnivatashcha me hariyojanashcha me
MeaningMay my cups of soma be mine: the Amshu, the Rashmi, the Adabhya, the Adhipati, the Upamshu, the Antaryama, the Aindravayava, the Maitravaruna, the Ashvina, the Pratiprasthana, the Shukra, the Manthin, the Agrayana, the Vaishvadeva, the Dhruva and the Vaishvanara, and the cups of the seasons and the extra cups, the Aindragna, the Vaishvadeva, the Marutvatiya, the Mahendra, the Aditya, the Savitra, the Sarasvata, the Paushna, the Patnivata and the Hariyojana. These are names of cups used in the Soma rite, and they are named here without translation.
Anuvaka 8
Anuvaka 8
इध्मश्च मे बर्हिश्च मे वेदिश्च मे धिष्णियाश्च मे स्रुचश्च मे ।
चमसाश्च मे ग्रावाणश्च मे स्वरवश्च म उपरवाश्च मेऽधिषवणे च मे ।
द्रोणकलशश्च मे वायव्यानि च मे पूतभृच्च म आधवनीयश्च म ।
आग्नीध्रं च मे हविर्धानं च मे गृहाश्च मे सदश्च मे ।
पुरोडाशाश्च मे पचताश्च मेऽवभृथश्च मे स्वगाकारश्च मे ॥
Idhmashcha me barhishcha me vedishcha me dhishniyashcha me sruchashcha me
Chamasashcha me gravanashcha me svaravashcha ma uparavashcha me'dhishavane cha me
Dronakalashashcha me vayavyani cha me putabhrichcha ma adhavaniyashcha ma
Agnidhram cha me havirdhanam cha me grihashcha me sadashcha me
Purodashashcha me pachatashcha me'vabhrithashcha me svagakarashcha me
MeaningMay the things of the sacrifice be mine: the firewood, the sacred grass, the altar, the hearth-mounds, the ladles, the cups, the pressing stones, the sounding stones, the pressing boards, the vessels and the soma tubs, the purifier, the strainer, the Agnidhra priest's seat, the shed for the offering, the houses, the hall, the cakes, the cooked offerings, the closing bath and the cry svaha be mine.
Anuvaka 9
Anuvaka 9
अग्निश्च मे घर्मश्च मेऽर्कश्च मे सूर्यश्च मे प्राणश्च मेऽश्वमेधश्च मे ।
पृथिवी च मेऽदितिश्च मे दितिश्च मे द्यौश्च मे शक्वरीरङ्गुलयो दिशश्च मे ।
यज्ञेन कल्पन्तामृक्च मे साम च मे स्तोमश्च मे यजुश्च मे ।
दीक्षा च मे तपश्च म ऋतुश्च मे व्रतं च मेऽहोरात्रयोर्वृष्ट्या बृहद्रथन्तरे च मे ।
यज्ञेन कल्पेताम् ॥
Agnishcha me gharmashcha me'rkashcha me suryashcha me pranashcha me'shvamedhashcha me
Prithivi cha me'ditishcha me ditishcha me dyaushcha me shakvarirangulayo dishashcha me
Yajnena kalpantamrikcha me sama cha me stomashcha me yajushcha me
Diksha cha me tapashcha ma ritushcha me vratam cha me'horatrayorvrishtya brihadrathantare cha me
Yajnena kalpetam
MeaningMay fire, the hot milk offering, the shining Arka fire, the sun, the breath, the horse sacrifice, the earth, Aditi and Diti, the sky, the twelve fingers and the directions prosper through the sacrifice. May the Rik verses, the Sama songs, the praise, the Yajus formulas, the consecration, the austerity, the season, the vow, the rain of day and night, and the Brihat and Rathantara songs prosper through the sacrifice.
Anuvaka 10
Anuvaka 10
गर्भाश्च मे वत्साश्च मे त्र्यविश्च मे त्र्यवी च मे ।
दित्यवाट्च मे दित्यौही च मे पञ्चाविश्च मे पञ्चावी च मे ।
त्रिवत्सश्च मे त्रिवत्सा च मे तुर्यवाट्च मे तुर्यौही च मे ।
पष्ठवाच्च मे पष्ठौही च मे उक्षा च मे वशा च मे ।
ऋषभश्च मे वेहच्च मेऽनड्वाञ्च मे धेनुश्च मे आयुर्यज्ञेन कल्पतां प्राणो यज्ञेन कल्पतामपानो यज्ञेन कल्पताम् व्यानो यज्ञेन कल्पताम् चक्षुर्यज्ञेन कल्पताम् श्रोत्रं यज्ञेन कल्पतां मनो यज्ञेन कल्पताम् वाग्यज्ञेन कल्पतामात्मा यज्ञेन कल्पताम् यज्ञो यज्ञेन कल्पताम् ॥
Garbhashcha me vatsashcha me tryavishcha me tryavi cha me
Dityavatcha me dityauhi cha me panchavishcha me panchavi cha me
Trivatsashcha me trivatsa cha me turyavatcha me turyauhi cha me
Pashthavachcha me pashthauhi cha me uksha cha me vasha cha me
Rishabhashcha me vehachcha me'nadvancha me dhenushcha me ayuryajnena kalpatam prano yajnena kalpatamapano yajnena kalpatam vyano yajnena kalpatam chakshuryajnena kalpatam shrotram yajnena kalpatam mano yajnena kalpatam vagyajnena kalpatamatma yajnena kalpatam yajno yajnena kalpatam
MeaningMay my young animals and calves, my cows and bulls of different ages from one to six years, my bull that is ready to breed, my cow that cannot calf, my stud bull, my cow that has lost her calf, my ox and my freshly calved cow be mine. May my life prosper through the sacrifice, and my breath, my out-breath, my through-breath, my eye, my ear, my mind, my voice, my self, and the sacrifice itself prosper through the sacrifice.
Anuvaka 11
Anuvaka 11
एका च मे तिस्रश्च मे पञ्च च मे ।
सप्त च मे नव च म एकादश च मे ।
त्रयोदश च मे पञ्चदश च मे सप्तदश च मे ।
नवदश च म एकविंशतिश्च मे त्रयोविंशतिश्च मे पञ्चविंशतिश्च मे ।
सप्तविंशतिश्च मे नवविंशतिश्च म एकत्रिंशच्च मे त्रयस्त्रिंशच्च मे ।
चतस्रश्च मेऽष्टौ च मे द्वादश च मे षोडश च मे ।
विंशतिश्च मे चतुर्विंशतिश्च मेऽष्टाविंशतिश्च मे द्वात्रिंशच्च मे षट्त्रिंशच्च मे ।
चत्वारिंशच्च मे चतुश्चत्वारिंशच्च मेऽष्टाचत्वारिंशच्च मे वाजश्च प्रसवश्चापिजश्च क्रतुश्च सुवश्च मूर्धा च व्यश्नियश्चाऽऽन्त्यायनश्चान्त्यश्च भौवनश्च भुवनश्चाधिपतिश्च ॥
Eka cha me tisrashcha me pancha cha me
Sapta cha me nava cha ma ekadasha cha me
Trayodasha cha me panchadasha cha me saptadasha cha me
Navadasha cha ma ekavimshatishcha me trayovimshatishcha me panchavimshatishcha me
Saptavimshatishcha me navavimshatishcha ma ekatrimshachcha me trayastrimshachcha me
Chatasrashcha me'shtau cha me dvadasha cha me shodasha cha me
Vimshatishcha me chaturvimshatishcha me'shtavimshatishcha me dvatrimshachcha me shattrimshachcha me
Chatvarimshachcha me chatushchatvarimshachcha me'shtachatvarimshachcha me vajashcha prasavashchapijashcha kratushcha suvashcha murdha cha vyashniyashcha''ntyayanashchantyashcha bhauvanashcha bhuvanashchadhipatishcha
MeaningMay the numbers one, three, five, seven, nine, eleven and so on by twos up to thirty-three, and four, eight, twelve and so on by fours up to forty-eight, be mine. Then the last line gives names without the refrain: strength, impulse, the one born with, the sacrifice, the heaven, the head, and the Vyashniya, Antyayana, Antya, Bhauvana, Bhuvana and Adhipati, a closing list of names that the commentary connects with the Vasordhara offerings.
Text: the Taittiriya Samhita of the Krishna Yajur Veda with the commentary of Sayana (Anandashrama Sanskrit Series 42, part 6, Pune, 1903), fourth kanda, seventh prapathaka, read from the page images; checked against Sanskrit Wikisource, Taittiriya Samhita 4.7. Transliteration is simplified; the Vedic tone marks are not shown; meanings are our own.
Where the readings differ
The text above follows the Anandashrama print, which has the same words as the typed Sanskrit Wikisource Taittiriya Samhita, apart from these points:
- Wikisource’s typed text breaks a few words across a space, for example मेऽपान श्च; the page joins them as the print has them (मेऽपानश्च).
- In anuvaka 11 Wikisource has एकत्रिंश्च्च (“thirty-one”), a typing slip; the page follows the print, which reads एकत्रिंशच्च.
- The print puts a pause mark at the end of each kandika, a numbered subsection. The page leaves these out and gives one continuous chant, as it is recited.
- Where the print has a nasal sign before a consonant, the page writes a plain dot above the line.
If you recite with a teacher, follow the teacher’s text and tones.
When and how it is traditionally recited
The Chamakam is chanted after the Namakam in Rudrabhishekam, the ritual bathing of the Shiva lingam, and in homas, and many priests chant the Namakam and then the Chamakam one anuvaka at a time in the form called the Ekadasha Rudra. It is also chanted alone in some rites, for well-being in daily life, and in the Vasordhara, from which it takes its place in the Samhita. It is chanted on Maha Shivaratri, on Mondays and on Pradosha.
Chanting is done with three Vedic tones, learned from a teacher by ear. These are customs of the tradition. The text itself lays down no rule of day, count or posture.
What the hymn says and what the tradition says it is for
The Chamakam asks for everything, and nothing is left out. The first anuvaka asks for the self: breath, mind, speech and the body’s parts. The second to fifth ask for qualities, comfort, food and the earth’s riches. The sixth turns to the gods, each joined to Indra. The seventh to ninth name the vessels and parts of the sacrifice. The tenth asks for cattle and for life itself, and the eleventh closes with the numbers.
The tradition reads this as a prayer in which the worshipper asks for what is needed for a full life and then asks that all of it be placed in the service of the sacrifice. The refrain yajnena kalpantam, “may it prosper through the sacrifice”, appears in several anuvakas. It is a request of faith and not a promise of any result, and nothing in it replaces medical, legal or financial advice.
Pronunciation notes
The Chamakam is chanted with three tones, which only a teacher can give. For a first reading, say each syllable evenly. The sh in shanti and sharma is the sh of “shoe”. The ri in rita and vriddhi is a light rolled r. The ksh in kshema is a k followed by sh. The refrain cha me is said as two short syllables, cha with the sound of ch in “church”. At the end of a phrase cha and me often sound joined, as in vajashcha me.
How the text on this page is sourced
The Devanagari follows an old printed edition: the Krishnayajurvediya Taittiriya Samhita with the commentary of Sayana, in the Anandashrama Sanskrit Series (number 42), part 6, edited by Kashinath Shastri Agashe and published in Pune in 1903 (archive.org item MiZn_krishna-yajurvediya-taittiriya-samhita-with-sayan-bhashya-part-6-by-kashinath-sh, scan pages 787 to 814). The seventh prapathaka of the fourth kanda, anuvakas 1 to 11, was read from the page images, and every anuvaka was compared with the typed text of Sanskrit Wikisource, Taittiriya Samhita 4.7, which was used as a second witness. The Vedic tone marks are not reproduced. The hymn has no named human author, and the meanings are our own, following the commentary of Sayana where the words are obscure.
Related mantras and pages
- Sri Rudram: an overview of Rudram, the Namakam and the Chamakam
- Namakam, anuvakas 1 to 5: the first half of Rudram
- Namakam, anuvakas 6 to 11: the rest of the Namakam
- Purusha Suktam: the Rigveda hymn of the cosmic person
- Rudrashtakam: eight verses to Rudra
- Maha Shivaratri: the night of Shiva
- Maha Shivaratri puja: how the night is kept
- Mahamrityunjaya Mantra: the Rigveda mantra to Rudra
- All mantras, stotras, chalisas and aartis
Frequently asked questions
↳ What is the Chamakam?
The Chamakam is the second half of Sri Rudram, from the Taittiriya Samhita (4.7). It is a long list of things asked for, each ending in cha me, meaning and may it be mine.
↳ What does cha me mean?
Cha means and, and me means to me or mine. The phrase turns each item into a request: may this be mine.
↳ How is the Chamakam connected with the Namakam?
In worship the Chamakam is chanted after the Namakam, and together they are called Rudram. The Namakam is salutation to Rudra and the Chamakam is a set of requests.
↳ Is the Chamakam asking only for material things?
It begins with the body and mind and ends with the sacrifice and numbers, and in between asks for food, wealth and well-being. The tradition reads it as asking for what a full life needs, offered in the service of the sacrifice.
↳ Can I read it without a teacher?
Yes, for meaning. To chant it in the Vedic way with its tones, learn from a teacher or follow a recording by a Vedic reciter.